A fated showdown

"Huh? Are these your team captains? You're sending them out right away? Aren't you worried things might go wrong?" The question came from a middle-aged man who had come over from the restaurant. Hearing that a battle was about to begin, quite a few diners had followed them out, hoping to watch an exciting showdown.

"Not at all. We might be starting at the peak, but the excitement will just keep coming!" Zi Xinman said with a slight smile.

"Of course—assuming Nancheng Pokémon University has what it takes!" Lin Mingzhe sneered. Having been stopped from going first, he was decidedly unhappy.

"Why not try us and find out?" This time, it was Xuan Yuan Nian who spoke. Having left her family, she was also curious to see just how strong her cousin had become.

Meanwhile, both competitors had taken their positions on the Battlefield. Xiao Ran and Xuan Yuan Tianyu looked at each other with eyes that seemed to burn with fighting spirit.

"I can tell you're a worthy opponent. I hope you won't disappoint me!" Xuan Yuan Tianyu said confidently.

"If you want to be my opponent, we'll have to see whether you have what it takes!" Departing from his usual gentle manner, Xiao Ran smiled with confidence.

"Dratini! Thunder Wave!"

"Popplio! Baby-Doll Eyes!"

They spoke almost simultaneously, both opening with a control move. But Baby-Doll Eyes gained the upper hand thanks to its priority, making Dratini hesitate before releasing Thunder Wave. That moment's delay caused it to miss.

Like Growl, Baby-Doll Eyes lowered the opponent's Attack by drawing their attention, so in an actual battle, it could also interfere with their movements.

Xiao Ran had chosen Baby-Doll Eyes over Growl precisely because Fairy-type moves were effective against Dragon types, and because Baby-Doll Eyes had priority. The former helped